Fight! Fight! Pillow fight!

[meridio]

[For someone so fixated on the concept of fairness, Somnus was never known for observing formalities. The Oracle has retired after a trying day, a servant tells him, and must be allowed her rest. He brushes the night guard aside with the snap of his wrist, and it's a matter of seconds before he's striding across the chamber to where Aera slumbers. That she looks so peaceful where she lies doesn't deter him in the slightest.

His brother might scold him for his brusqueness, if he were here. He isn't.]

Oracle—

Comments

[indelebilis]

[ Aera blinks at his offer. This was... unexpected. He's being very hospitable right now, and the sentiment is very much appreciated.

She watches him stand. ]

Are you certain? You really wouldn't mind?

[meridio]

[ Just as the Oracle must assist the king, so too must the king attend to the Oracle. Besides, the people will be falling before her feet for an opportunity to help. He starts for the door. ]

The servants will be informed in order to prepare for the labor. Don't do anything reckless until then.

[indelebilis]

[ She supposes a few weeks in Lucis won't hurt, and besides, it means catching up with both work and people here, Somnus included. Not to mention she's eager to explore the city now that he has expanded upon it.

Pushing herself up to her feet, she nods. ]

Thank you, Somnus. Let me know how you are feeling by this evening, if you are up to it I will use my magic on you again.

[meridio]

Conserve your strength until then.

[ He'd better not hear about her healing anyone and everyone in sight. But it's no concern of his where or to whom she decides to go.

Morning turns into afternoon into evening. In the end, Somnus neglects to inform Aera of his condition. Matters of the state have occupied him all day, and he finds himself without a good place to stop. At least this will have given her ample time to tour the city. ]

[indelebilis]

I will, thank you, Somnus. [ Except when she does, inevitably, bless and heal those who clamber to her for it. But, details. At the very least, she'll have conserved enough for Somnus. But he doesn't have the time to let her in on how he's feeling, of course, ad she can't particularly fault him because she knows that he is, in fact, a very busy man. So she has distracted herself with touring the city, and making lots of new friends. But as the day turns into night, and as the hour grows later, Aera needs to find Somnus. It's for his own good, after all, so she will roam the familiar castle until she finds the poor man. ]

[meridio]

[ Dang it, Aera.

Like clockwork, he sweeps down the hall to his quarters once darkness cloaks the Citadel. He doesn't doubt that he'll run into Aera, who ought—ah, speak of the devil. ]

Consider the baby, Oracle. You ought to be asleep by now.

[indelebilis]

[ When has she ever really listened to reason?

She's made herself at home right outside the door this time around; she's not about to barge in on him twice, after all. Not this particular trip. It's late, and yet she's more awake than she was earlier. ]

Good evening to you, too, dear Somnus. Ah, the baby would not allow me to sleep even if I wanted to.

[ She's huge. She can't get comfortable. She hasn't seen her own feet in months. ]

How are you feeling? How was your day?

[meridio]

[ The baby is restless, just like the mother, who's definitely going to be pampered by the servants. They're all too eager to serve the Oracle and see to her needs.

Glancing at Aera's swollen belly, Somnus nods in lieu of a verbal greeting. ]

Busy—and there's more to be done still.

Our meeting this morning will ensure that I rest easily. You can return to your quarters.

[indelebilis]

[ That much is for sure. She's had servants following her all day long, even after she'd politely dismissed them from time to time. No one wants to seem to leave her alone for too long. ]

I'm certain there is. Are you retiring for the evening, then?

[ Her head tips to the side, as if she's really mulling over his words. ]

Are you certain, though? You did not over exert yourself? You have to promise.

[ Because he's not given her a reason to trust him in this aspect. Two years of silence on his end is to blame for that. ]

[meridio]

No.

[ Well, it isn't a lie. Overexertion is when he can barely stand on his feet. Right now, he's just tired. Compared to the previous nights, though, he's in peak condition. He has Aera to thank for that. ]

It's time that I retired. The same goes for you.

[indelebilis]

Yes, yes... I suppose. I will see you in the morning, dear Somnus.

[ As per usual, she leaves him with her usual kiss to the cheek. There are already attendants waiting for her at the end of the corridor and she is happy to greet them and head back down towards her quarters. Their giggling and chit chat can be heard echoing off of the walls, eventually fading off into nothingness.

When morning rolls around, however, Aera does not see Somnus in the morning. She's been presented with a different, far more difficult task: having this baby. Sorry about that, Somnus. ]